Page 90 - Answers from the Qur'an

ANSWERS FROM THE QUR'AN
self. "Restraining oneself patiently with those who call on their
Lord morning and evening" complies with Allah's good pleas-
ure. On the contrary, turning one's attention to the one who "fol-
lows his own whims and desires," and "whose heart Allah has
made neglectful of His remembrance" is an attitude that em-
anates from one's self. And, moreover, it is disobedience to
Allah.
This is a very important criterion, and one of the issues to
which a person who has already embraced Islam must pay the
utmost attention.
Meanwhile, those who are bereft of this sincerity or remain
under the influence of the lower self do not make any effort to be
with believers. They find some excuses and try to keep away
from believers in an attempt to deceive them. However, these ex-
cuses have no validity in either Allah's sight or in the eyes of be-
lievers.
In daily life, people encounter many examples of such ex-
cuses, some of which are listed below:
"Family matters" is among the foremost excuses put forward
by the lower self to hinder people from fulfilling their acts of
worship, observing religious requirements, and being together
with believers. Those who listen to the whisperings of the lower
self and are not so careful about obeying Allah often make up
such excuses as: "My family takes all of my time" or "I cannot ob-
serve my religious duties, for my parents do not allow me to do
so." Such excuses may have no validity in Allah's sight, for al-
though people need time to deal with their families, such a duty
does not impede them from observing the Qur'an's commands.
Consequently, such excuses are not sincere.
Such people may well be deceiving themselves with these
useless excuses, but they surely cannot deceive Allah and believ-

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